HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is a US government grant program for Low Income / Disabled / and Seniors house-owners or renters. (USA only! Other Countries MAY have energy rebates for low income people - please check!)

Software Santa was awarded a $277 credit to his gas and electric bill in early August 2014 - it takes 6 ~ 8 weeks for the Amount to be credited to the utility. A couple of months from nowthen a utility bill will arrived that sayssaid "Credit balance: do not pay." on it.

How would you like someone to pay your utility bills for several months a year? And would you like someone to pay for weatherstripping your House and Insulating your attic (EVEN if you RENT?!?)? And would you like for somebody to pay to replace some of your old appliances with NEW high energy efficiency ones?

National Energy Assistance ReferralBy emailing us at energyassistance@ncat.org , you will access the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR is a free service for persons who want information on where to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which may pay a portion of the energy bills of eligible low-income persons. Please include your city, county and state in your email message. Or, call NEAR toll-free at 1-866-674-6327 or TTY 1-866-367-6228 for energy assistance referral.

Quote

Who We Are

Welcome to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse Web site, an Internet information service for state, tribal and local LIHEAP providers, and others interested in low-income energy issues. This site will be a supplement to the LIHEAP-related information the LIHEAP Clearinghouse currently provides through its phone line (406-494-8662) and newsletter.

Since 1988, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has operated the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse through a training and technical assistance contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance.

Through regular contact with the above parties, the Clearinghouse maintains and updates a nationwide information-sharing network.

The Clearinghouse provides information that helps low-income energy providers and low-income energy issue groups accomplish any or all of the following:

* improve the management and delivery of low-income energy services; * target benefits to those with the highest energy burdens or the most need; * initiate innovative administrative and programmatic improvements; * investigate and obtain sources of supplemental, nonfederal funding; * reduce energy consumption by program recipients; * foster energy self-sufficiency and reduce program dependency among recipients; and * maximize cooperative and coordinated efforts among utilities, HHS, grantees and organizations serving low-income persons.

Our overall goal is to expand and enhance information exchange on low-income energy issues with the national low-income energy network. We will strive to make this service as timely and informative as possible, but we need your input. We encourage you to contact us at with comments, suggestions, and questions. Please email Kay Joslin or Sherry Vogel or telephone (406) 494-8662.

Information you won't find here: LIHEAP grantee allocations, LIHEAP policy issues, information memoranda and action transmittals to grantees on program rules, regulation, and policy. This information is provided at the web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance.

Finally, this site does NOT provide information on where or how to receive LIHEAP benefits. For that information, go to your state or tribal web site. If your state or tribe does not have a web site, email or call your state or tribal LIHEAP director, whom you'll find listed in the State or Tribal Directories.

National Energy Assistance Referral

By emailing us at energyassistance@ncat.org , you will access the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR is a free service for persons who want information on where to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which may pay a portion of the energy bills of eligible low-income persons. Please include your city, county and state in your email message. Or, call NEAR toll-free at 1-866-674-6327 or TTY 1-866-367-6228 for energy assistance referral.